Thursday, September 9, 2010

Keeping Your Plants From Being Deer Snacks

January 4, 2010 by Tad Distin  
Filed under Gardening, Home And Garden

Have you ever slaved all summer to grow a beautiful garden, only to find it demolished after one night of deer snacking? How can you be assertive without hurting animals that are just trying to survive? You can’t build a fence because, in addition to being very expensive, the deer will probably find a way over it. You must guard against deer by using their survival instincts for your own gain and repelling them in any way you can. You will have to find the right deer repellent for you.

As with most other animals, deer are very sensitive to smell. They are a comparatively docile form of wildlife and run away at the first sign of a predator. The urine of a predator is the best way to mark your territory–but there is something about walking around with a spray can of urine in your hand and spraying it around your garden. How about the edible stuff?

But how are you supposed to go about finding wolf urine? Should you use your dog’s urine? You don’t have to. Special sprays are made now as impostor predator urine. If the deer smells something that indicates danger, they will not venture forward. This can be found in any gardening aisle.

Deer are known to be sensitive to high-frequency noises; either blow a whistle high enough for only animals to hear when you notice a deer around (inconvenient) or invest in an electronic whistle that can automatically play whenever its motion sensor is triggers or at specific times. This will make the deer steer clear.

For more inexpensive, household items, use anything with a sharp scent. Chopped garlic has been said to work, along with chopped hot peppers. Dove soap, which smells so good to us, is enough to make a deer retch. Moth balls and ammonia (understandably) keep animals at bay.

You should also try “deeroscaping, ” where you plant certain things that deer find disgusting in the middle of your regular plants. The smell of these alone may keep deer from your property without the desire to investigate further. Deer dislike mums, certain grasses, sage, and spearmint. The list is dozens of plants long; look it up! Do your research!

These are all good steps for summer months when other food is readily available; deer won’t bother with your heinous yard when there are plenty of other peaceful, nice-smelling places to eat. In the winter, though, deer do not have the luxury of being picky. They can and will eat anything they can find. You may have to use ALL of these steps in the winter.

Are you having problems with deer? Then deer repellent is the best way to go. On the Internet, you can find a large variety deer repellent recipes that will help get rid of those creatures.

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